The Effectiveness of Interventions to Address Health Inequalities in the Early Years: A Review of Relevant Literature

Description

The review has been prepared to summarise the relevant evidence base and advise policy colleagues of the known effectiveness of specific early years health interventions. The review covers the following areas: pregnancy at a young age; maternal and foetal health during pregnancy; maternal and child nutrition and physical and mental health; child development and early education; parenting in the early years; vulnerable groups and longer term impacts.

CHAPTER SEVEN: THE EFFECTIVENESS OF INITIATIVES TARGETING VULNERABLE GROUPS 7.1 Introduction 7.2 A review of services for vulnerable families with very young children 7.3 People who are homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless (The Dundee Families Project) 7.4 Misuse of alcohol and other drugs 7.5 Children at risk of neglect or acting beyond the control of their parents 7.6 Looked after children

CHAPTER EIGHT: INVESTMENT IN THE EARLY YEARS - LONGER TERM IMPACTS 8.1 Introduction 8.2 The 'spiral of decline' 8.3 Costs and outcomes in services for children in need 8.4 0-5: How Small Children Make a Big Difference 8.5 The costs and benefits of early intervention 8.6 Creating and fostering non-violence in society (Circle of Security and Roots of Empathy)

CHAPTER NINE: SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Pregnancy 9.3 Birth onwards - nutrition, smoking cessation and safety 9.4 Birth onwards - home visiting programmes 9.5 Parenting education and support - early years 9.6 Three to eight years - early education and childcare 9.7 The effectiveness of initiatives targeting vulnerable groups 9.8 Investment in the early years - longer term impacts 9.9 Conclusions